The European Banking Authority has published its 2026 Work Programme, setting three priorities for next year and pairing them with a package of 21 actions to strengthen the simplicity and efficiency of the EU regulatory and supervisory framework for banks and other financial entities. The programme translates the efficiency agenda into specific actions across four areas under review and commits to regular reporting on implementation. The priorities are developing a rulebook that supports an efficient, resilient and sustainable single market, performing risk assessments supported by improved tools, data and methodologies, and tackling innovation by enhancing stakeholders’ technological capacity. The work programme also flags 2026 as the start of new oversight and supervisory functions linked to critical third-party providers under the Digital Operational Resilience Act, issuers of crypto-assets under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, and the use of initial margin models under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation, while its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism responsibilities exercised since 2020 will have transferred to the new Anti-Money Laundering Authority. The underlying efficiency review covers the production of Level 2 and Level 3 regulatory products, the reporting burden for financial institutions, the EBA’s contribution to the EU prudential regulatory framework, and internal working arrangements. The EBA Board of Supervisors adopted the work programme on 29 September 2025, following work by a dedicated task force and input from the Advisory Committee on Proportionality and the European Commission.